Where does "emphasis mine" go in a quotation?

Question

I have often seen the term *emphasis mine* used whenever an author wishes to denote that emphasis in a given quotation originates from said author rather than from the original source. **What is the proper place for this phrase?** One possibility is immediately following the emphatic text, inside the quotation. But, see next question...**What if there are multiple emphatic sections marked within the quote?**If "emphasis mine" comes immediately after each phrase, it would end up repeated two or more times, which seems a bit messy. In this case, would it be OK to place "emphasis mine" at the end of the quotation? If so, should it be inside or outside?**How should the phrase "emphasis mine" be set off?**I believe I have seen parentheses () or brackets [], though brackets are also used to indicate words added by the one using the quotation.

Answer 1

I agree with your other responder that your comment should come after the full quotation. *However,* brackets typically indicate that you have inserted your own words into a quotation to help clarify it. Since this is not the case here, I strongly recommend parentheses.

Best wishes!

Answer 2

I often find the phrase "emphasis mine" added after the quotation, and usually set off by brackets. That said, the most important thing is consistency: if you add "emphasis mine" immediately after the emphasized text, then continue that pattern throughout your work; likewise, do not switch between parentheses and brackets.

Consistency will make it look professional no matter how you do it.